I have added lots of different options into typeinfo in order to make it as
user-configurable as possible. If you click the menu button over the
iconbar icon then the iconbar menu opens and to open the options window
simply click select over the 'Options' item.
There are three different frames with grey subtitles to them. Underneath all
of these are two icon, 'Save & Exit' and just 'Exit'. If you click on the 'Exit'
icon the options window simply closes. If you click on the 'Save & Exit'
window then the options are saved to a file and will be the same when you
load typeinfo again next, then the options window closes.
Note than in the options window itself, if the little 3D box to the left of the
option notes is ticked or has some sort of mark in it, then that option is
selected. If the box is blank then that option is unselected.
To scroll down through the options, just drag the scroll bar or click on the
arrows.
d2. The Options
_______________
'Autoload no-loading types'
- this is the option governing the autoload feature,
if it is on then when you click on a file without
runtype it will be loaded into typeinfo. If you
turn the option off, when you click on a file with-
out runtype the No run action specified error will
occur.
'Ignore 'Utility/Absolute' filetype'
- This is a glitch that I noticed when I was still
writing typeinfo. &FF8 and &FFC do not have runtypes
specified, so if the autoload feature is on then
when clicked they will not be run as the user would
desire but be loaded into typeinfo. If these two
options are both on then when the user double-clicks
an Absolute or Utility file it will be run as normal
otherwise it will be loaded into typeinfo.
'Redraw the entire screen on load'
- When a file is loaded into type info, if there is a
filesprite then it is placed in the appropriate icon
in the information window and left as that, that is
if this option is off. It it is turned on then when
a file is loaded the screen is redrawn so that any
files of this type will automatically have the icon
appear on them.
'Only load the filesprite'
- If you don't want to have the info window come up
every time you are autoloading a file. If you
select this option, only the spritefile is loaded
to provide a filesprite and not the info.
'Automatically update sprites'
- This option currently has no effect at all.
The reason for this is that I have not
yet written the code for this feature but to prevent
awkwardness in development have included the option
anyway. When this feature has been added it will
mean that as soon as a filesprite is loaded into the
wimp pool (the computer's memory) typeinfo will grab
the sprite and save it into it's records. If that
type is then loaded later, a filesprite will be
available even if no data is. Another good reason to
register ASAP.
'Install on iconbar'
- This option denotes whether or not the typeinfo icon
should be available on the iconbar. If this option
is selected then there will be a typeinfo icon on
the iconbar and if it is unselected then there won't.
It is a simple as that.
'Use Typeinfos solid drag save'
- If you have Risc OS 3 then there is a special feature
of the filer available to you. This feature is that
of solid save dragging. Normally when you save a file,
you simply drag a dotted box from the save window to
the filer window. To jazz the desktop up a bit, Acorn
have included some code to enable software authors to
include solid dragging in their code, so, I have. If
this option is selected then if you save the file
-sprite or text info from the information window save
option then you will get nice solid drags, otherwise
you will just get the old boring dotted box.
'Check before overwriting records'
- If you wish to edit the records from the edit window
then you will have to add the records (see editing).
If there is already a record available for that file
type then typeinfo asks whether or not you want the
new record to destroy the old one. That is, if this
option is selected. I recommend that you leave this
option on as it is too easy to create a new use and
save it over the old record destroying info on another
three uses.
'Allow Hotkeys'
- If this icon is selected then the hotkeys detailed later
in this manual are functional, otherwise they won't work.
The reason for this option is that while type info is
checking for hotkeys being pressed, it slows down the
operation system very very slightly, so little in fact that
you will never notice it. If you are doing a lot of calculations
, say with a large spreadsheet, it might be worth turning this
option off to save small amounts of update time.
'Random Animation (in Info window)'
- If this icon is selected then the animation described elsewhere
in this manual will be active otherwise it will not. The reason
for this option is similar to that for the 'Allow Hotkeys' option,
over long periods of time it might slow the processor down very
slightly, but only when the animation takes place so it won't
have any noticeable effect.
'Use fonts next time'
- If this option is selected, then the next time the program loads, the
windows will all be filled with lovely-looking outline fonts, note for
this to work Trinity and Homerton must be pre-loaded. Risc OS 3 users,
don't worry they are automatically loaded at switch on.
'Skimming rate'
- When you skim through the filetypes, (see section b9)
you may wish to alter the time that each file is displayed
for. The number is held within this icon (in seconds)
and can be altered to fit your needs. Note that because
the fastest clock the computer has works in centiseconds
(hundredths of a second) you cannot enter a number with more
than 2 decimal places. Also bear in mind that if you choose
a number less than 1, as I have, then you must include the
digit 0 before the decimal point.
Default Options
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
These are the options that were set up when you first
received your copy of typeinfo. They are also the options
that are saved for reloading when you run the Emergency program
inside the Extras directory.
These options are:
€ Load file when a type without run action is run
€ Never auto load the 'Utility' filetype
€ Never auto load the 'Absolute' filetype
☓ Redraw the entire screen when a file is loaded
☓ Only load the filesprite (don't open info window)
N/A Automatically update sprite records
€ Install on iconbar
€ Use Typeinfos solid drag save (OS3 Only)
€ Check before overwriting records
€ Allow Hotkeys
☓ Random Animation (in Info window)
Skimming Rate: 0.5
Where:
€=Selected, ☓=Unselected and N/A=Not applicable
d3. The message window
______________________
I have an immense dislike for the message and error boxes that are
provided with Risc OS. I was most excited when I saw the way that
Doggysoft's Wimp Extension module dealt with the problem of their
appearance. I didn't feel however that I could justify wasting an extra
55Kb for the module on a simple error box, so I decided to design my own. Once you have read and understood the message, and appreciated the design, simply
click on the 'Ok' button to close the window and free the mouse as per
usual. Note that if you press F12, and then return to the desktop while the
message window is open, the mouse will no longer be trapped. I
recommend that you still close the window immediately as Typeinfo will
become confused, and may crash.
d4. Emergencies
_______________
If you ever have any problems with not being able to
open the options window because, for example, the icon
bar icon has been turned off then simply run the emergency
program inside the extras directory and
the options file will then be reset to the user default
irrespective of whether or not typeinfo is loaded.
